Flashing electric lamp



June 6, 1967 |RKQ 3,324,289

FLASHING ELECTRI C LAMP Filed Dec. 21, 1964 awn/ran ANTE CIRKO United States Patent 3,324,289 FLASHING ELECTRIC LAMP Ante Cirko, 1146 Davie St., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Filed Dec. 21, 1964, Ser. No. 419,960 Ciairns priority, a plication Canada, Jan. 9, 1964,

7 Claims. oi. 240-101 This invention relates to incandescent display lamps and more particularly to that type of incandescent display lamp which is designed for ornamental purposes.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a lamp which, when energized by a source of electric power, twinkles in a starlight fashion and which is sulficiently compact and self-contained so that it may be connected to the standard electrical outlet by a conventional plug for use in Christmas trees, small display signs and in other locations where the twinkling effect is required.

It is appreciated that certain apparatus, such as signs and the like, have heretofore been arranged and designed whereby electric lamps and the like carried by the signs are operated intermittently either in a random manner or in a pattern. However, such apparatus has been bulky and it has not achieved the twinkling effect so desirable.

The present invention provides an incandescent lamp apparatus which, by reason of the manner in which it is constructed, achieves the desired effect as noted above.

The present invention comprises a supporting base, an electric lamp unit mounted on the base and having a plurality of light filaments, each of which is provided with separate electrical contact elements, means carried by the base and connected to a source of electric power to intermittently and alternately energize the filaments when the power is turned on.

In the drawings which illustrate the embodiments of the invention,

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of the apparatus partially in section,

FIGURE 2 is a view of the apparatus on the plane of and in the direction of 2-2 of FIGURE 1, in which various portions of the apparatus are partially cut away.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view partially in section of an embodiment of the invention as shown in FIGURE 1, I

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of an alternate embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, and specifically to FIGURES l, 2 and 3, the apparatus generally numbered comprises a plurality of incandescent filaments 12 mounted on a supporting base 14 and arranged to be alternately and intermittently energized by electric power through a motor-driven contact mechanism 16, the latter also being driven by the same source of electric power that energizes the filaments.

The supporting base is generally in the form of a cylindrical shell having a widened lower flange portion 19, and is preferably composed of a strong dielectric substance such as the material sold under the trade mark Bakelite or any of the well-known plastic materials.

The inner wall 21 of the supporting base 14 is provided, near the upper end 22 of said base, with an annular recess 23 adapted to receive and provide an air-tight seal for a metallic disc 24, such as copper or the like, or any other of the stronger metals which also are good electrical conductors. The disc 24 is perforated, as shown in FIGURE 2, with a multitude of perforations 25 over which vertical glass stanchions 26 which encase and support the filaments 12 are located. By referring to FIGURE 3, which shows in enlarged detail the perfora- 3,324,289 Patented June 6, 1967 tions referred to and the glass encased filaments 12, it will be seen that the lower ends 28 of the glass stanchions 26 cover the perforations 25, said lower ends being fused to the disc 24 so that each of said stanchions seal each of said perforations. One end 29 of the filaments 12 project downwardly through the perforations and is connected to a conically shaped contact element 30, the lower tip 32 of which projects downwardly below the bottom of the disc. The other end 33 of the filament 12 is connected by soldering or the like to the disc 24.

The contact mechanism 16 which is mounted the supporting base 14 below the tips 32 of the contact elements 30, comprises a small electric motor 34 secured in an upright position centrally of the disc 24 by means of support brackets 35, the latter being secured by rivets or the like to a disc-like support 37, the peripheral edges 38 of which are adapted to fit into an annular recess 39 formed on the inner walls of the supporting base 14. The shaft 40 of the rotor of the electric motor projects vertically upwardly and has secured at its upper end 42, a disc-shaped metallic plate 44 composed of an electrically conductive material, such as copper or brass or the like, the said upper end 42 of the shaft having a press fit within a sleeve 45, said sleeve itself having a press fit within a circular aperture formed centrally through said plate 44. The sleeve is composed of a dielectric material, such as fiber or the like, to insulate .the shaft 40 from the plate 44, the press fit providing sufficient friction between the shaft and the sleeve to permit the motor to rotate the plate 44. Mounted by means of soldering or the like to the upper surface of the metallic plate 44 are a plurality of spring fingers 48, one of which is shown in detail in FIGURE 3, arranged and spaced so that each finger will lay in brief contact with the tips 32 of the elements 30 as the plate 44 is rotated. There may also be secured by soldering or the like to the upper surface of the metallic plate, an annular contact element 49. The latter element which is shown in detail in FIGURE 4 is disposed on the plate 44 concentrically with the axis of the shaft 40, and has an upper annular contact face 50. An annular V-shaped side support 52, the lower end 53 .of which is flared outwardly to form a flange 54 which rests on the plate 44 and is secured thereto by soldering or the like,. as previously pointed out. The annular contactelement 49 is situated belowone .of the tips 32 of the elements 30 so that upon rotation of .the plate, the annular contact face 50 .thereof remains in continuous contact with said tip, the side supports 52 providing sufficient resiliency and flexilibity of vertical movement of the annular contact element 49, whereby a continuous contact is achieved.

A spring contact finger or brush 56 is secured to the inner wall of the supporting base 14 by rivets 57 and projects inwardly of said supporting base to make sliding contact with the peripheral edge of the plate 44.

The filaments 12 are enclosed in a glass envelope 59, the lower edge 61 of which fits into an annular recess 62 formed in the upper end of the supporting base 14, the juncture of the envelope and supporting base being sealed in any suitable manner, such as is standard in the art of the manufacture of incandescent lamps, in order that an oxygen free atmosphere may be provided within the glass envelopes by any suitable method also well-known in the art of the manufacture of incandescent lamps. The spring contact finger 56 and disc 24 are connected in parallel with the motor 34 by leads 64 and 65, respectively, and 67 and 68 respectively, as shown in FIGURE 1, to a suitable electrical plug 70, the latter being adapted to fit standard electrical outlets.

In the operation of the apparatus when the power is turned on by connecting the plug 70 to a suitable electrical outlet, the motor 34 will rotate disc 44 causing spring fingers 48 to make intermittent contact with the tips 32 of the elements 30, thereby intermittently closing the electrical circuit through the 'leads 64-65, thereby intermittently and alternately energizing the filaments 12. It will be appreciated that said spring fingers 48 may 'be staggered in any manner to produce either a random energizing of the filaments 12 or to light the latter in a more regular manner. It will further be appreciated that the filaments 12 themselves may be arranged in various patterns, such as in concentric circles or the like, or in any other manner desired.

In an alternate embodiment 80 of the invention, the filaments 12 of apparatus may be replaced 'by a multitude of incandescent lamps 82, as shown in FIGURE 5. In this embodiment, the disc 83 which corresponds to disc 24 of apparatus 10, is provided with a multitude of internally threaded apertures 84 corresponding to the perforations of apparatus 10 which serve as sockets for said lamps 82, said lamps making an electrical contact with the sides of the aperture and a tip 86 thereof protruding below disc 83 to make contact with spring fingers 87 corresponding to spring fingers 48 of apparatus 10 which are secured to a metallic plate 88, the latter corresponding to metallic plate 44 of apparatus 10. Alternate embodiment of the invention 80 operates in the same manner as apparatus 10. However, as each of the lamps 82 provides its own oxygen free atmosphere, the glass envelope 59 of apparatus 10 is not required in alternate embodiment 80.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Flashing electric lamp apparatus comprising a supporting base, an electric lamp unit mounted on the base, having a plurality of light filaments, said filaments each and connectable to said source of power, said motor having a driving connection with the turntable so as to rotate the latter when the power is turned on to thereby cause the energizing of the lamps in said alternate and intermittent manner.

3. Flashing electric lamp apparatus as claimed in claim 2 in which the turntable carries at least one contact member presenting a continuous annular contact face to at least one of the filament contact elements.

4; Flashing electric lamp apparatus comprising a tubular base formed of dielectric material, an electro-conductive plate having a plurality of holes formed therein mounted in and having an airtight seal at its peripheral edge with the wall of the base adjacent one end of the latter, said plate having an upper and a lower surface, airtight electro-insulative material filling the holes, an elongated electric light filament at each hole above the upper surface of the plate, each of said filaments being encased in the electro-insulative material and having one end connected to the plate, an electric contact element connected to the other end of each of the filaments and extending below the plate, a single airtight light-passing cover enclosing the filaments for providing an airtight enclosure therefor, an electroconductive turntable mounted for rotation on the base beneath said electric contact element, an electro-conductive brush mounted on the base slidably contacting the turntable, a plurality of short electroconductive spring finger elements mounted on the turntable for making and breaking contact with the contact elements when the turntable is rotated, a motor connected to the turntable for rotating the latter, and electric leads connecting the plate and brush as terminals in an electrical circuit, said leads being connectable to a source of electric having a common ground and each being provided with a separate contact element, said filaments being enclosed in a single sealed glass envelope, a turntable mounted for rotation on the base beneath the lamp unit, a plurality of resilient contact members connected to a common source of power and arranged in the turntable for rotation therewith to make and break contact with, in alternate and intermittent manner, the contact elements of the filaments as the turntable is rotated, an electric motor mounted on the base and connectable to power so as to energize the filaments when the contact elements are engaged by the spring fingers.

5. Flashing electric lamp apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the motor is an electric motor and including means for connecting the motor to a source of electric said source of power, said motor having a driving conmon ground, a turntable mounted for rotation in they base beneath the lamps, a plurality of resilient contact surfaces connected to a common source of power and arranged on the turntable for rotation therewith to break and make contact with, in alernate and intermittent manner, the contact surfaces of the lamps as the tumtable is rotated, an electric motor mounted on the base power.

6. Flashing electric lamp apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the cover means comprises a single glass envelope having an airtight seal With the walls of the base.

7. Flashing electric lamp apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the spring fingers are arranged in a random pattern so as to result in energizing of the filaments in a random manner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,043,981 11/1912 Strong 240-101 2,197,331 4/1940 Bahlke 315-67 2,228,437 1/1941 Blana 24O10.1 2,235,360 3/1941 Davis 315-67 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD M. SHEER, Assistant Examiner. 

1. FLASHING ELECTRIC LAMP APPARATUS COMPRISING A SUPPORTING BASE, AN ELECTRIC LAMP UNIT MOUNTED ON THE BASE, HAVING A PLURALITY OF LIGHT FILAMENTS, SAID FILAMENTS EACH HAVING A COMMON GROUND AND EACH BEING PROVIDED WITH A SEPARATE CONTACT ELEMENT, SAID FILAMENTS BEING ENCLOSED IN A SINGLE SEALED GLASS ENVELOPE, A TURNTABLE MOUNTED FOR ROTATION ON THE BASE BENEATH THE LAMP UNIT, A PLURALITY OF RESILIENT CONTACT MEMBERS CONNECTED TO A COMMON SOURCE OF POWER AND ARRANGED IN THE TURNTABLE FOR ROTATION THEREWITH TO MAKE AND BREAK CONTACT WITH, IN ALTERNATE AND INTERMITTENT MANNER, THE CONTACT ELEMENTS OF THE FILAMENTS AS THE TURNTABLE IS ROTATED, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR MOUNTED ON THE BASE AND CONNECTABLE TO SAID SOURCE OF POWER, SAID MOTOR HAVING A DRIVING CON- 